Acetylene-gas apparatus.



no.'7|2,||s. Patented Oct. 23, I902.

. E. BOURNDNYILLE AGETY LENE GAS- APPARATUS- (Application filed Apr. 4;1 900. (No Model.) r 3 Mutt-Sheet I War. worms PETERS co,. wnoTmJTMQ,wAsmNcroN, n. c.

(No Model.)

- Patented Oct. 28, I902. E. BOURNDNVILLE.

ACETYLENEGAS APPARATUS.

(Application filed Apr. 4, 1900.)

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mi NORRIS mans 80.. Pug'roumu. WASHINGTON. a c.

no.v 7 l2,ll'6. Patented on. 28, 1902. E. BOURNONVILLE.

AGETYLENE GAS APPARATUS.

(Application filed Apr. 4, 1900.)

section of the same.

" ATENT VGFFICE.

EUGENE BOURNONVILLIl-OFJERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

ACETYLENE-GAS APPARATUS.

SEIECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 712,1 16, datedOctober 28, 1902.

Application filed April 4, 1900.

To all "whom, it Wtcty concern:

Be itknown that LEUGENE BOURNONVILLE, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for producingacetylene gas; and it consists in the novel features and combinationshereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention is presented in this application in an apparatus comprisingageneratortank containing water, a gasometer receiving the gas f om saidtank, means operable from the gasometer for feeding charges of thecarbid to the said tank, and an outlet-pipe for gas from the gasometer,and the purpose of my invention is to improve such apparatus as a wholeand also in its details.

My invention pertains more particularly to novel automatic means forfeeding the charges of carbid to the generator-tank, to meansintermediate the gasometer and the feed-wheel whereby the latter at theproper time and to the proper extent is actuated by the movement of thegasometer, to novel features hereinafter described pertaining to thegenerator-tank, and means for controlling and delivering the gas fromthe generatortank to the gasometer, and to novel features whereby theattendant may withdraw the water and deposits from the generator tankwithout interfering with the continued use of the apparatus.

The invention willbe fullyunderstood from the detailed descriptionhereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus constructed inaccordance with and embodying the invention, parts being shown insection. Fig. l isasectional View of the trapped funnel. Figs. 2 and 2are views of the sealtrap. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of my generator.Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the trap. Fig. 5is a cross- Fig. 6 is a detached view 'within the auxiliary tank 1.

Serial N5. 11,451.- oa model.)

of the feed-wheel. Fig. 7 is a view of amodifled form thereof.

The casing A constitutes a generator-tank, into which the water ispoured through the trapped funnel E. This casing A is divided intosubstantially'two sections, (lettered B and O.) A portion of said tankis partitioned ed by the plates G and H to form an auxiliary tank Itoreceive the gasometer J and the water, (lettered K,) which is entirelyseparated from the water in the main tank and is employed as a seal forthe gasometer The gasometer J is of customary form, construction, andoperation and is adapted to have a vertical reciprocating movement Thewater K, employed for sealing the gasometer J, is never in communicationwith the water in the main tank A and is supplied to the tank I by beingpoured into the upper end thereof.

The bottom of the generator-is substantially fiat and one side is in theform of an inverted cone and the outlet therefrom is controlled by avalve L, which when opened will permit of the escape of the water fromthe tank A and all sediment and waste products which may haveaccumulated within the said tank A. Upon the flat part of the bottom ofthe generator is provided the scraper-blade M, to which is connected anoperating device N, and which by means of the said operating device Nmay by given a revoluble movement over the said bottom for the purposeof loosening the waste products therefrom and causing them to pass intothe cone-shaped outlet portion of the section B.

Within the auxiliary tank I is provided the vertical cylinder P, whichextends upward from the partition H to within a short distance from thetop of the casing of the generator and is provided upon its upper endwith a layer of filtering media Q, confined between perforated or porousplates, cloths, or housings R R. The cylinder P is less in diameter thanthe diameter of the gasometer J, and said gasometer passes downward oversaid cylinder, as illustrated in Fig. 3. p The upper end of the cylinderP will always be above the water-level in the auxiliary tank I. Thepartition H below the cylinder P is open,

as at s, and through this opening, in the manner hereinafter described,the generated gas passes upward to within the cylinder P and thencepasses through the filtering media Q 5 and into the gasometer J.

The calcium carbid is fed to the generating-chamber of the casing Athrough the chute T, which is located adjacent to the upper portion ofsaid section B and has its delivery end considerably below thewater-level in said casing A. The chute T communicates with the interiorof the section B, and hence becomes substantially filled with the water,and said chute at its lower end, which projects into the section 13,comprises the opposite sides VV and downwardly and inwardly inclinedbottom V, upon which the calcium carbid will fall and which will directsaid carbid inward to a proper extent within the section B. The sides Wof the lower end of the chute T are led high enough to prevent thepassage of any gas into the chute T and are not connected within thesection 13 except by the aforesaid inclined bottom V and by an :5outwardly and downwardly inclined plate X,

whose purpose is to deflect inward any ascending gas which in theabsence of said plate might be inclined to pass out through the chute.Such portion of gas as may pass into the lower end of the chute T belowand outward beyond the lower edge of the plate W will pass upwardthrough the open space left between the outer vertical wall of thesection B and the upper edge of the plate W.

.5 The upper part of the generator is provided with the air-ventvalvefin order that the tank may be properly filled and emptied, andthis air-vent valve also performs the function of showing when the wateris at a sufficient height in the generator-tank.

In some cases it may be desirable to use a trap at the upper end of thegeneratingchamber to prevent backflow of gas when cleaning. Thisconstruction is shown in Figs.

5 2 and 2.

5 in Fig. 2, whereby the water seal 6 is formed,

through which the generated gas must pass on its way to the upper end ofthe section B. In addition to the formation of the water seal 6 by thedeflecting-plates c d the plate (1, in

connection with the adjacent side wall of the section B, forms areceptacle which will hold water sufficient to at all times maintain thewater seal, and particularly during such periods as the water may bewithdrawn from the casing A. The generated gas passes to the upper sideof the horizontal partition I), and hence when the water for any reasonis 7 withdrawn from the casing A the quantity of l water held by thedeflecting-plate (1 will be sufficient to prevent the downward passageof the gas from the upper to the lower side of the partition I), andthus the water may be withdrawn from the casing A and the lattercleansed without danger of the escape of the gas with the water andwithout interfering with the continued use of the gas within thegasometer J. The lower edges of the deflecting-plate c are preferablyserrated to the more thoroughly diffuse the gas passing through thewater seal 6 on its way to the upper end of the section B, and therebyprevent flickering at the burners. The horizontal partition Bis wrappedclose around and above the inner protruding end of the valve f, which ison the line of the water-level within the section B and which whenopened during the filling of the generator-tank with water will permitthe escape of all of the air from below the partition I), and thus theformation of an air-cushion below said partition is prevented. Thehorizontal partition I) is provided with the downwardly-extending pipeg, whose lower end is curved upward, and the purpose of this pipe is topermit a circulation of the water from the upper to the lower side ofthe horizontal partition I) when, due to excess of pressure or othercause, such circulation is desired. The upwardly-turned lower end of thepipe 9 forms a water seal and will hold sufficient water to preventunder usual conditions the downward escape of gas through said pipe gwhen the main body of water is being withdrawn from the casing A duringthe cleansing of the latter.

Upon the section B of the main casing A is secured the dome h, withinwhich the generated gas passes and from which said gas finds its outletthrough the pipe 2', which extends downward from within the dome h tothe trap j, Which is secured to the lower side of the partition H and atits upper end is entirely open and in line with the opening .5 at thebase of the cylinder 1. The construction of the trap j is more clearlyillustrated in Figs. 3, 5, 5 in which it will be seen that said trap isin the general form of an oblong receptacle containing a definite supplyof water and having secured therein the elongated frame 7.5, which formsa gas-chamber into which the pipe 0} directly leads and which chamber issealed around its lower edges with the water within said trap j, asshown in Fig. 3. The frame is of metal and secured to the trap j, andthe sides of this frame 70 are serrated, as shown in Fig. 3, in orderthat the gas which passes into the chamber formed by the frame it maywhen escaping around the lower edges of the said frame be diffused byits contact with the serrations at the lower edges of the said sides.The gas which passes from the pipe '6 into the chamber formed by theframe 70 will pass below the serrated edges of the sides of said frame70 and then ascend through the water held by the trap j and thence passupward through the opening S into the cylinder P, whence it will passthrough the filtering media Q and into the gasorneter J. Connected withthe trap jis a pipe m, having on the outer leg the funnel u, said pipebeing provided. with the plug 0. It will be seen that by filling thispipe with water the seal in the trap j will be maintained against thepressure of the gas. The plug 0 allowsthe water in the trap and pipe tobe drawn off. The gas passes from the gasometer J through the pipe q, asshown in Fig. 3, to the nozzle 4", (shown in Fig. 1,) to which nozzlethe customary pipe or tube leading to'the burners may be applied in awell-known manner. The pipe g at a point exterior to the casing A isconnected with the safety-seal valve-box or governor F, as shown in Fig.1.

The calcium carbid maybe fed to the chute T in any suitable manner; buta part of the present invention pertains to the means illustrated in thedrawings for effecting an automatic feeding of the carbid to the chute Tin proper regulated quantities and through the instru mentality ofmechanism connected with and influenced by the movement of the gasometerJ. In accordance with this portion of my invention an inclosing casingSis applied to the upper end of the chute T, and within this casing ismounted upon the horizontal shaft tthe feed-wheel to, which is directlybelow the downwardly and outwardly inclined wall a: of the hopper A,into which the calcium carbid in bulk will be placed. Attached to thiscasing Sis a plate S ,wh ich is made to conform to the contour of thefeed-wheel and comes close to it to insure the carbid passing forward ofthe wheel. This plate is placed in the position shown in Figs. 1, 3. Itwill be obvious that the casing S might be so shaped as to take theplace of the separate plate. The casing S extends above the wheel to,and its upper end 0 connects with the outer vertical side of the hopperA at a point directly above the wheel to, whereby there is formed anopening from the hopper A to the wheel 20 which is substantiallyvertical and tends to direct the calcium carbid on a line toward theouter side of the wheel to. The throat or opening from the hopper A intothe chamber formed by the casing S is controlled by the weighted hingedgate D, which has a normal tendency to close said throat or opening andis only opened by the action against said carbid of the wheel w duringthe rotation of the latter. The action of the Weighted gate D is toprevent any surplus quantity of calcium carbid from being fed to thechuteT and to restrain the carbid upon the wheel to and permit the sameto be fed to the machine by said wheel only in the limited quantitiesdesired for the generation of the requisite amount of gas. The upper endof the hopper A is in the form of a hinged door, and thence said hoppermay he opened to receive the calcium carbid in bulk and then closed. Theupper end O of the casing S is plate S likewise in the form of a hingeddoor, which may be opened and closed at will, and hence the action ofthe feed-wheel w and gate D may be inspected at will. Upon the outerside of the casing S is also provided for convenience of inspection andof removal of the feed-wheel a hinged door E'.

Upon the outer side of the section B of the casing A and adjacent to thelower portions of the feed-chute T is provided the verticallyelongatedglass panel G, through which the contents of the generator-tank may beinspected and through which also the ebullition created by theconversion of the calcium carbid into the gas may be observed. The glasspanel G enables the attendant to observe the condition and action of thewater within the main casing A, and thus serves as an accurate means forindicating whether the generator-tank is in proper operative conditionand when it is necessary or desirable to with: draw the sediment andwater from said tank and clean the latter.

The wheel to is formed as shown in Figs. 6,

"7, the only difl'erence between the two constructions being in one casethe flange is straight and in the other it is flaring, the flaring formof flange being adopted to insure the throwing of the carbid in towardthe projections on the wheel. These projections are in the shape ofratchet-teeth, as clearly shown in the drawings. By this form of wheeloperated by the intermittent mechanism hereinafter described smallquantities of carbid are fed intermittently as the volume of gas in thegas-holder diminishes, thus insuring thesuccessive generation of smallquantities of gas in such a manner that the pressure of gas in thegas-holder has but a small limit of variation, or, in other Words, thatonly the exact quantity of carbid necessary to generate gas suflicientto replace that consumed will be dropped on the hopper. I also providemeans for preventing any particles of calcium carbid from passing overthe flanges of the ends of the feed-wheel and down between said ends andthe sides of the inclosing casing S. These means are illustrated in Fig.3 and consist in cheek-pieces S, Fig. 3, Which project downward from theinner walls of the upper contracted end of the casing S and haveextensions w, with curved edges, which are in close proximity to theflanges w. of the wheel. These cheek-pieces extend backward to the Itwill be seen, therefore, that carbid can only be'fed into the chute bypassing forward over the wheel.

A further portion of the invention relates to the means'i'ntermediatethe feed-wheel w and the gasometer J, whereby the latter may be reliedupon to actuate at the proper time and to the proper extent the wheel toto feed the calcium carbid to the generator-tank, and this portion ofthe'invention is not limited to the special feed-wheel to, but comprisesany feed-wheel adapted to be operated by the means constituting thisportion of the invention and located intermediate the feed-wheel and thegasometer. The mechanism constituting this portion of the invention isillustrated in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, and comprises a chain or flexibleconnection J, positively secured atone end to the gasometer J,and thenceextending upward over the pulleys K L, and thence downward to the outerend of the lever M, which is swiveled upon the end of the shaft 25,carrying the feed-wheel w. The lever M is provided with the spring-pawlN, which is in engagement with the ratchet-wheel O, secured upon theshaft t. The lever B is heavier at its outer end, to which the chain Jis secured, and hence will descend at that end of its own weight untilarrested by the rigid stop P, which defines the limit of the downwardmovement the end of the lever M shall have. When the end of the lever Mis descending of its own weight to the stop P, the pawl N will simplyslide over the teeth of the ratchet-Wheel 0 without rotating the latter,and consequently without rotating the shaft t and feed-wheel 20. When,however, the outer end of the lever M is elevated under the action ofthe chain J, the pawl N will engage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel O andcause the latter to have a definite revolving motion in one direction,and at such time this revolving motion of the ratchet-wheel 0 will becommunicated, through the shaft t, to the feed-wheel w, and thus thefeed-wheel to will be caused at such period to feed alimited quantity ofthe calcium carbid to the feed-chute T. The chain J has a fixedconnection at one end to the gasometer J and at the other end with theouter portion of the lever M, and that portion of the chain Jintermediate the pulley-wheel L and the lever M is preferably providedwith the weight Q, which will preserve the chain in a taut conditionover the pulleys K L. It is to be observed, however, that the chain J isof such length that it is not taut throughout its entire length exceptat the definite period when the gasometer J is reaching and leaving itslower position and it becomes necessary to elevate the outer end of thelever M for the purpose of causing the pawl N to rotate theratchet-wheel O and feed-wheel w. In the condition of the apparatusillustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 it may be assumed that the gasometer J iseither ascending or descending. If it is assumed that the gasometer J(shown in Figs. 1 and is ascending, it will be observed that in thenatural operation of the weight Q the chain J will be by said weightdrawn over the pulley-wheels K and L and will hang downward in aslackened condition adjacent to the outer end of the lever M. On theother hand, if it be assumed that the gasometer J, due to theconsumption of the gas, is descending it will be apparent that theweight of the gasometer J will draw on the chain J, and finally whennearly to its lowest position will, by moving all of the slack from saidchain, draw the latter to a taut condition from the gasometer to thelever M, and thereupon during the final descending movement of thegasometer J the motion of the latter by continuing to pull on the chainJ will effect a limited upward movement of the outer end of the lever Mfor the purpose thereby of effecting a limited revoluble motion of theratchet-wheel O and the feedwheel to, the latter being thus caused tofeed a proper quantity of the calcium carbid to the chute T. Thus itwill be understood that the chain J is never taut except during thefinal portion of the descending motion of the gasometer J and possiblyduring the first upward portion of the motion of the gasometer J, thechain being then held taut by the weight of the lever M until the latterhas descended to and become arrested by the stop P. It is one of thepurposes of this portion of the invention to prevent the gasometer,through the chain J, from acting on the feed-wheel to at any time otherthan during the final portion of the downward motion of the gasometer Jand to provide such actuating means intermediate the gasometer J and thefeed-wheel to that the latter may remain entirely idle, except duringthe latter portion of the de scending motion of the gasometer, and thenbe actuated by a reasonably-quick motion and only during a limitedportion of the movement of the gasometer. The dropping of the carbidinto the water sometimes causes water to be splashed up on the wheel,wetting the surface, so as to cause generation of small amounts of gas,which can escape through the top of the hopper. To prevent this, Iprovide a splash-plate T, which is fixed to the casing below thefeed-wheel and extends outward to the feedwheel in the position clearlyshown in Fig. 3.

The operation of the apparatus hereinbefore described has beensubstantially pointed out in connection with the description of theconstruction of the apparatus. The calcium carbid in bulk will be placedwithin the hopper A, and the water will be supplied to thegenerator-tank, the trap j, the blow-off valve or governor F, and theauxiliary tank I. The water supplied to the auxiliarytank Iis simply forthe purpose of sealing the gasometer J, and the water supplied to themain casing exterior to the tank I is for the purpose of converting thecalcium carbid into the gas, and this water, as hereinbefore described,will fill the generator-tank up to the level of the horizontal partitionZ). In first starting the apparatus into actual operation a portion ofthe carbid will be manually fed to the chute T; but thereafterthefeeding of the carbid to the chute T will be accomplished automaticallyby the movement of the gasometer J. The gas generated within the tankformed by the casing A will ascend to the chamber above the horizontalpartition I) and enter the dome h, whence it will descend through thepipe 2' into the chamber formed by the frame 70, and thence descendaround the lower edges of the sides of said frame and after passingthrough the Water contained in the trap j will pass upward through theopening S and into the vertical cylinder P, from which the gas will passdirectly through the filtering media Q and into the gasometer J, whenceit will be fed to the burners by means of the pipe q. The automaticfeeding of the carbid to the feedchute T is accomplished from thegasometer J by means of the chain J, lever M, pawl N, ratchet-wheel O,shaft t, and feed-wheel w, and, as above described, in the operation ofthis part of the apparatus the feed-wheel w is maintained entirely idle,except during the latter portion of the downward motion of thegasometer, at which time the gasometer having then drawn the chain Jtaut will on its final movement downward elevate the weighted end of thelever M, and through the intermediate mechanism above described effect alimited motion of the wheel w, and thereby cause said wheel to carry alimited quantity of the calcium carbid to a position in which it will beleft unsupported and be allowed to fall directly into the chute T and beby said chute directed into the water contained within the generatortanln The carbid is directed to the wheel to through the substantiallyvertical throat and from a hopper having an inclined base, and therebythe bulk of the carbid is largely supported within the hopper and isprevented from having a tenden'cy to leave the hopper with undue speed.That portion of the body of the carbid which is allowed to pass throughthe throat leading from the hopper A is supported upon the wheel 20 andis retarded in its outward movement by the weighted gate D in itsoperation and simply presses against and upon the carbid leaving thehopper A by gravity and prevents the carbid from moving with unduefreedom over the wheel w. I

The scraper-blade M, having the operating device N, is for the purposeof removing the lime or other deposits from the bottom of that part ofthe tank A within the influence of the scraper. The withdrawal of thelime and other products, as well as the water, from the generator-tankwill be readily accomplished by opening the valve L and permitting theentire contents of the generator-tank to escape.

The employment of the trapj is of advantage in that thereby the gaspassing into the cylinder p becomes more thoroughly diffused and saidtrapprevents the return of the gas from the gasometer J and cylinder Pinto the generator-tank under any conditions in which it might bedesired to open the valve L and cleanse the generator-tank.

The general form and construction of the exterior casing, subdivided bythe partitions G H into the generator-tank and auxiliary tank, thelatter to receive the gasometer, are of advantage, since thereby a verycompact structure having the maximum capacity for the generation of gasis produced.

What I claim, and desire to secure byLetsupplied with water for sealingthe gasome 5 ter, and the generator-tank comprising'the section B and aportion of the section 0 and being also supplied with water,substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the main casingcomprising the sections B, C, subdivided by the partitions G, H, intothe generator-tank and the auxiliary tank, combined with the gasometeradapted to said auxiliary tank, the cylinder within said tank and havingthe filter at its upper end, the seal-trap at the lower end of saidcylinder and communicating therewith, the gas-conducting pipe leadingfrom the upper end of the section B to said seal-trap, and the pipeleading from said gasometer to the burners, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the exterior casingcomprising the sections B, C, subdivided by the partitions G, H, intothe generator-tank and the auxiliary tank, combined with the gasometeradapted to said auxiliary tank, the scraper-blade upon the base of saidcasing below said partition H, the feed-chute leading into said sectionB, means for conveying the generated gas from the upper end of saidsection B to said gasometer, and means for conducting the gas from saidgasometer to the burners, the lower end of said section B being in theform of an inverted cone and provided with the outletvalve L,substantially as described. 7

4. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of a generating-tank,an auxiliary gas-holding tank, a cylinder within the auxiliary tankhaving at one end a trapped inlet and at the other end a filteringdevice, a pipe communicating between the generating-tank and the trappedinlet, and a gas-outlet from the auxiliary tank,substantially asdescribed. 7 3

der within said tank having a filtering device at one end and a trappedinlet at the other, and communications between the generating-tank andthe trapped inlet, and an outlet from the gasometer, substantially asdescribed.

6. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of a gasometer, agenerating-tank, a

feed-chute leading into said generating-tank, a partition or plate inthe said generatingtank at the upper end thereof, a plate cooperatingwith the said partition to form a water seal, and a pipe communicatingfrom above said waterseal to the gasometer, substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, the generator-tank, thegasometer, and the water seal for said gasometer, combined with thecylinder P within said gasometer and having the filter at its upper endand the partition H at its lower end, the trap secured to the saidpartition H and at its upper end being open and in line with the openingS at the base of said cylinder, the frame 76 mounted within said trapjand having the top and the sides whose lower edges are below theWater-level in said trap j and above the bottom of said trap, and thepipe for conducting the gas from the generator to within the chamberformed by said frame and above the water-level in said trap j, wherebythe gas after filling said chamber is compelled to pass downward belowthe lower edges of said frame 70 and thence upward through the trapj andthe water therein, and then upward through said cylinder P and saidfilter to the gasometer, substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the generator-tank, thegasometer, and the feed-wheel for feeding the carbid .to said generatortank, combined with the ratchet-wheel on the shaft of said feed-wheel,the lever-arm M loosely hung upon said shaft and having the pawl N tocooperate with said ratchet, the chain J connected at one end to thecentral portion of the top of said gasometer and at the other endpositively fastened to the outer end of said lever-arm M, the elevatedpulleys K, L, over which said chain passes, the intermediate weight Q,applied to the vertical stretch of said chain extending from the outerpulley L to the end of said lever-arm M for causing all slackness insaid chain to be formed into a loop about said lever-arm, and the stop Pfor limiting the downward motion of said lever-arm M, the length of saidchain being such that when the gasometer has reached its upper positionsaid chain will hang loosely in the form of a loop below said stop P andbelow the lower position of said lever-arm M, and that when saidgasometer is reaching its lower position the slack or loop in said chainwill be taken up and said chain will then be caused to exert a directforce upon said lever-arm M to operate said feed-wheel, substantially asdescribed.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, the generator-tank, thegasometer, the feed-chute leading into the side of the generator tankand below the water level therein, the feed-Wheel 20 mounted upon thehorizontal shaft, and the casing leading to said feed-chute andinclosing said feed-wheel, said casing snugly conforming to one side ofsaid wheel and leaving the other side thereof free or exposed, combinedwith the hopper for the carbid located above said feed-wheel andsupplying the latter with carbid, means for retarding the passage of thecarbid over the eX- posed side of said feed-wheel, and means foroperating said feed-wheel from the gasometer, said feed-wheel comprisingthe series of corresponding horizontal projections having the tangentialfaces H, I, of thecharacter shown and described, for moving the carbidoutward so that it may fall over the exposed side of the said wheel andthen into said feed-chute and be, by the latter, conducted into the sideof the generator-tank below the water-level therein, substantially asdescribed.

10. In a machine of the character described, the generator-tank, and thefeed-chute leading into the side of the generator-tank and below thewater-level therein, combined with the feed-wheel mounted upon thehorizontal shaft above said feed-chute, the casing inclosing saidfeed-Wheel and conforming to the outline of one side only thereof,leaving the other side of said feed-wheel free or exposed, the hopperfor the carbid located above said feed-wheel and having the inclinedbottom and the substantially vertical throat located adjacent to thevertical center of said feedwheel, means for retarding the passage ofthe carbid through said substantially vertical throat, and means foroperating said feed- Wheel, the said inclined bottom of said hopperbeing at one side only of the latter and joining that side of saidcasing which conforms to the side of said feed-wheel, substantiallyasdescribed.

11. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, the gasorneter, thewater seal therefor, the generatortank having the downwardl y andinwardly inclined lower walls and provided with theoutlet-valve,combined with the feed-chute leading into saidgeneratortank and having the downwardly and inwardly inclined wall V,the separated sides W, the downwardly and outwardly inclined plate Xconnecting said sides at their upper portions, and the opening atintermediate said plate X and the side of the generator-tank, thedelivery end of said feed-chute being substantially above saidoutlet-valve, substantially as described.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, the generator tank, theauxiliary tank, the gasometer within said auxiliary tank, the cylinderwithin said auxiliary tank and leading into said gasometer, combinedwith the water-seal trap at the base of said cylinder, the pipe leadingfrom the upper end of the generator-tank to said water-seal trap, andthe pipe m leading from said Water-seal trap to the exterior of thecasing forming a water seal, the plug 0 and funnel a substantially asdescribed.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, the generator tank andthe feedchute leading to the generator-tank,combined with a feed-wheelmounted upon the horizon tal shaft above said feed-chute, the casinginclosing said feed-Wheel and conforming to one side thereof, the hopperabove said -feedwheel and having the outlet-throat above saidfeed-wheel, the hinged gate acting against the carbid issuing throughsaid throat, and means for actuating said feed-wheel, substantially asdescribed.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, the generator-tank andthe feedchute leading to the generator-t-ank,combined with a feed-Wheelmounted upon the horizontal shaft above said feed-chute, the casinginclosing said feed-wheel and conforming to one side only thereof, thehopper above said feedwheel and having the outlet-throat above saidwheel, and means for actuating said feedwheel, substantially asdescribed.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, the generator-tank andthe feedchuteleading to the generator-tank,combined with a feed-wheelmounted upon the horizontal shaft above said feed-chute, the casinginclosing said feed-Wheel and conforming, to one side thereof, thehopper above said feedwheel and having the outlet-throat above saidfeed-Wheel, and means for preventing splashing of the water onto thefeed-wheel, and means for actuating said feed-wheel, substantially asdescribed.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, the generator-tank, thegasometer, and the feed-chute leading to said generatortank, combinedwith the frame 5 connected with the upper end of said feed-chute, thehorizontal feed-wheel w in said frame 3, the hopper for feeding thecalcium carbid to said feed-wheel, and means for operating saidfeed-wheel from the gasometer', said feedwheel having the end disks wand said frame having the inwardly-set cheek-pieces s to cooperate withsaid disks in preventiugparticles of the calcium carbid from enteringbetween the ends of said feed-wheel and the adjacent walls of the frame3, substantially as described.

17. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with agenerating-tank of a carbid- .chute leading into the same, a hopperabove said chute, a feed-Wheel between said hopper and chute, andlocated directly below the hopper,said feed-wheel having lengthwiseprojections substantially ratchet-shaped, and automatic means foroperating said wheel intermittently, substantially as described.

'18. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with agenerating-tank of a feedchute and a hopper for containing carbid, afeed-wheel between said hopper and chute, and located directly belowsaid hopper, said feed-wheel having ratchet-like projections extendinglengthwise on the circumference thereof, automatic means for operatingsaid wheel intermittently, and means for preventing the carbid frompassing into the chute save over the forward part of the said wheel,substantially as described.

19. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with agenerating-tank of a carbidchute leading into the same, a hopper abovesaid chute, a feed-Wheel between said hopper and chute, and locateddirectly below said hopper, means for operating said wheel, and meansfor preventing the carbid from passing into said chute save forward overthe wheel, substantially as described.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 15th day of March, 1900.

EUGENE BOURNONVILLE.

Witnesses:

E. M. HARMON, JOHN J. RANAGAN.

